diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release.md
index e46834b9..4128bb9b 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
-name: [SCT] Release checklist
-about: Used by the Spec Core Team to create a new release.
+name: '[SCT] Release checklist'
+about: 'Used by the Spec Core Team to create a new release.'
 title: 'Matrix 1.X'
 labels: 'release-blocker'
 assignees: ''
diff --git a/changelogs/internal/newsfragments/1856.clarification b/changelogs/internal/newsfragments/1856.clarification
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..838b8af5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/internal/newsfragments/1856.clarification
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix syntax errors in the spec release issue template.
\ No newline at end of file